JAMES The moment she pulled me in to pick up my scent, I could instantly feel the sparks running through my body. It has been a while since I felt them. I’ve forgotten what it felt like. So much so that I didn’t want her to let go. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and bring her closer. I wanted to bathe in her scent-juniper berries and fir. No, not fir, but cedarwood instead. Still, it was amazing. Even Deacon shared thoughts of marking her right then and there. “Her wolf would love it,” Deacon kept saying. He’s been running those thoughts in my head since we found her at that riverside. I almost did when she flat-lined minutes after I brought her in. It took Alpha Fiona and some fairy magic to calm me down. But it didn’t stop me from pacing in front of her door until I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to be near her, see her, and touch her. I ran in, begging Miss Emma to do whatever it took to save my mate. Then, a bright light filled the room, and her pulse returned. There was
ZIRA The man from before was back and holding my hand. I was more like gripping it, but he didn’t seem to mind. He was handsome, from the sparkle in his green eyes to the gentle expression on his face as he spoke to me. I wasn’t even sure what he was saying. I noticed his hand grabbing a necklace and wondered if he was the praying type. I needed all the prayers I could get. I have yet to have much luck with necklaces, and how he held this one must’ve meant it was important. Another contraction took me away from my thoughts. “They’re coming a bit faster than usual,” I said through gritted teeth. “Isn’t it too early to be this far?” “There’s nothing normal about a werewolf pregnancy. Everything comes faster,” Miss Emma told me. Great! The baby is coming, and I’m nowhere near being strong enough. “But I’m... I’m not strong enough. Can’t we hold him back or give me more time?” “Now, now, sweetie. Looks like this little one is ready to come out, whether you like it or not. Thi
ISAIAH I woke up stretching my arm to the other side of the bed. As usual, it was cold. Something I had been getting used to since that fateful night two months ago. That day, I lost more than I bargained for. I got up and went through my morning routine. I took a quick shower and picked out some training clothes. I dressed and took a moment to look at myself in my full-length mirror. I looked like shit. My five o’clock shadow was turning into an actual beard, and my eyes were a bit sullen due to the lack of sleep. I looked at my clock and realized it was only five am. So, I had a good four hours of sleep. That should be enough to get me through the day or at least through training. I went outside to take in the cold air. It was just the kind of weather I needed for a quick run. There was something therapeutic about running. Feeling the ground underneath your feet. I look forward to these runs, especially with Devon being MIA (missing in action). Ever since Alaia left the ro
ISAIAHSo now we are back here where my best friend, more like a brother, was afraid of saying ‘baby’ in front of me. Afraid of celebrating the life he helped create. I couldn’t allow this. My pack, my people, should be able to come to me about anything. As Alpha, I needed to rise above my trials and tribulations to better serve them. “Hunter, I am excited for you, man. Really, I am. We should celebrate what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t.” Hunter smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He really did look like he had just risen from the dead. “So, is the baby news why you look like this?” Hunter laughed a bit while rubbing the back of his neck. “Not exactly. With everything going on, Ashlee worries that something might happen to her. So, I’ve been busy making her feel safe while trying to fulfill my duties as Beta and-” “Say no more, Hunter.” I quickly mind-linked Jace and Chris. “If you need this time to be with her, take it. I still have Jace and Chris. They
ZACKIt’s been a few months since the attack on my pack. With the help of Alpha Isaiah and Alpha Gregg of the Whispering Winds Pack, I was able to get control of the damage. We still had a long way to go to return to where we were before, but the people were optimistic. I wish I could say the same for myself. Mirja, my mate, was still in a coma. Harry, James’ warlock friend, finally figured out what was wrong with her. She was trapped inside her mind. So, everything she saw felt natural to her. The only way to break it was to go inside to convince her it wasn’t real. I volunteered myself, but Harry refused. He felt he would be more experienced if something happened. So here I was, pacing back and forth at her door. Harry insisted I stay out of the way so he could concentrate. I said-well Alexi told him he was out of his witchy mind if he thought he was leaving his mate alone with another man. I tried to explain to Alexi that Harry was batting for a different team, but still, he w
ZACK This bond was completely taking over my senses, making me pull her close to inhale her wild berry and honey scent. I was happy that she was returning the favor. I slowly but reluctantly helped her back to bed. “You should probably take it easy.” She shook her head. “We have to find her. She has completely lost it and is tapping into the magic beyond her control.” “That was the plan. I just needed the proof. You,” I said, pointing to her. “Now I can bring Alaia back to the Elder Witches and-” “No,” Mirja said firmly. “You tried that before, and look at what’s happening. If she has found a way to access the power in my family’s grimoire, this is beyond the council. She has to be stopped.” “What do you suggest?” I asked, knowing the answer. I knew eventually, it might come down to eliminating the problem, but it was still hard to come to terms with it. Alaia was still my little sister. At that moment, Harry entered the room with a glass of water and gave it to Mirja.
ISABELLA I nervously watched George examine Victoria. I was fortunate to get James to bring someone to see her. He stood beside her bedside as I paced back and forth, watching them through the window. James kicked me out after growling at George numerous times for touching Victoria. It was more Jas than me, and she refused to listen. Ever since that night, I have been convinced Alaia had something to do with this. On the other hand, Isaiah believed her when she said she healed Victoria after Nas attacked her. Nas supposedly knocked her out before she could fully heal her. I just didn’t believe it. That girl doesn’t have a good bone in her little body. Then, finding out Zira was with them and suddenly disappeared, I really lost it. I had another huge fight with Alaia and Isaiah that still ended up with me looking like a jerk yelling at two people who had just lost their baby. Now, I could barely look at Isaiah without feeling a bit shameful. So, I kept to myself and watched ov
ISABELLA My mother stood with her hands placed in front of us. She stared at me, waiting for me to continue. I thought about everything that had happened this past year, but I wanted to start at the beginning for her. Start where this all began. “I knew I was gay when I was thirteen, maybe even before then. It may have been the day you pulled me away from Lana’s sleepover, which she totally kissed me first, by the way. I remember you being so furious with me. You kept saying, ‘Oh, what are people going to think?’ and ‘What will they say?’ You looked at me like I was a…a…freak. Like something was wrong with me. You made me feel like it was the worst thing in the world. So, from that day, I kept that part of me hidden. Just to please you, and it was killing me inside. I didn’t even notice until I met someone who didn’t look at me like you did. Zira and her mother accepted me without a second thought, and you know what, Mother. Their acceptance hurt even more than your displeasure